Shockey Pulls CSUN Closer to Playoffs With Record Day

To set the story straight, Greg Shockey broke the Cal State Northridge record for runs batted in in a career with a groundout in the fifth inning of Friday’s game against North Carolina State.

The precise time of that feat is of note because Shockey’s teammates, to a man, suspect the specifics of his record-breaking at-bat will be greatly enhanced in the future.

A few went so far as to suggest that Shockey himself might out-and-out fib, using the result of an at-bat three innings later to embellish the story.

Few would blame him for that, however, because in the eighth inning Shockey blasted a grand slam off bullpen ace Jamie Wolkosky, breaking open a one-run game and sparking Northridge to an 8-3 victory in the first round of the Carolina Invitational.

“A groundout to first base; breaking the record on that was not what I wanted,” Shockey said. “I wanted to put an exclamation point on it.”

And so he did in his next at-bat, allowing Northridge to do the same in terms of strengthening its claim to a berth in next week’s NCAA Division I regionals.

“That was a big win,” said Coach Bill Kernen, whose eighth-ranked Matadors improved to 37-12-1. “I think the playoff committee was looking for us to put an exclamation point on what we accomplished this season, and I think that’s exactly what this is going to do for us.”

North Carolina State (45-15), ranked 16th in the nation, had won nine of its previous 10 games and was coming off a 7-3 victory over third-ranked Clemson in the championship game of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

“They’ve been one of the best teams in the nation the last couple of weeks,” Kernen said. “We got what we came here for. I wanted to play in a playoff environment against a playoff-quality team.”

Shockey, too, got what he came for--RBI No. 151 and a record he had been waiting more than two weeks to break.

“I should have done it earlier with a double down the line or something, but it turns out I had a broken bat,” said Shockey, who surpassed the record set by Craig Clayton from 1989-91. “I was wondering what happened because I hit the ball well a couple of times early in the game and the ball went nowhere.”

His first appearance with a new piece of aluminum resulted in the home run, only the second Wolkosky has given up this season.

“I figured I’m confident, so if he’s their ‘guy,’ he’s confident and he’s going to come at me,” Shockey said. “I was looking fastball and I got one.”

Shockey’s ninth homer of the season provided some breathing room for Kenny Kendrena, who outperformed six Wolfpack pitchers. Kendrena (10-6) struck out nine and scattered seven hits while surviving three Northridge errors. The only earned run he allowed came on a solo home run by Vinny Hughes in the sixth inning.

North Carolina State scored unearned runs in the second and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead, but Northridge gained a temporary advantage with a three-run fifth.

Shockey’s groundout accounted for the first run after a walk to Denny Vigo and consecutive singles by Chris Olsen and Scott Richardson loaded the bases. Mike Solar followed Shockey’s at-bat with a looping two-run single down the right-field line.

North Carolina State came back with Hughes’ home run in the sixth to forge a 3-3 tie before Northridge pulled away for good with a five-run eighth.

Andy Hodgins started the rally with a bunt single, then Mike Sims walked and Vigo followed with a single to left to drive in Hodgins.

Wolfpack third baseman Paul Borawski then bobbled Olsen’s bunt attempt, loading the bases. One out later, Shockey unloaded them.